Self-winding device for eyeglass-cords and the like.



J. R. SMITH. SELF WINDING DEVICE FOR BYEGLASS CORUS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED uns, 1914.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

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JOSEPH It. SMITH, 0F W'ATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNR TO WATERBURY BUTTON COMPANY, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A. CQRPORATIOBIOF CON- NECTICUT.

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SELF-WINDING DEVICE FOB EYEGLASS-CORDS AND THE LIKE.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application filed April 3, 1914. Serial No. 829,402.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Josnrn R. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vaterbury, New Haven county, State ot Connecticut, have invented certain new and usei'ul Improvements in Self-Winding De vices for Eyeglass-Cords and the like, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.`

My invention relates to a device 'for wind ing up chains or cords for eye-glasses and the like, the object o1 the invention being to provide a very serviceable compact and manually controllable device of the character described.

In the drawings Il have shown a device of a construction appropriate for winding up an eye glass chain so that the eye glass may be supported from the winding device which is so arranged that it can be pinned on the clothing at some convenient point.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view or' my invention `approximately full size. Fig. 2 is a relatively enlarged cross- `section o'l' the case showing some of the internal parts in plan.` Fig. 3 is a section on the plane of the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the plane of the line lt-4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the `parts in a different position. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are perspective views ot' details.

1 represents a length of chain.

2 is one section of the casing, in this case the rear section, on which is mounted a "suitable pin 3 or other suitable fastening whereby the holder the clothing. i

l is the front part `oit' the case suitably connected with the back part 2 so as to form a housing.

5 is a flanged reel having a grooved per imeter and having a central web portion 6. At one side of the web portion is a spring pocket in which is housed a coiled spring 7 which is anchored at one end, preferably by means of a bent in finger Qaon the case section 2, to a centralnonfrotatable stud or post 8, and its other end is suitably secase may be secured on cured to the reel 5 so that when the reel 5 is turned in the direction towithdraw the proximately the position shown in Figs. `3

and fl. In this position, the spring is under tension and naturally will rotate the reel in a direction to rewind the chain 1, the said chain entering the case through a suitable slot 9. When the chain is extended or drawn out, it is desirable to provide eilective means 'for preventing the reel from rewinding unintentionally. To that end l provide a novel locking mechanism in the ilorm of a manually controllable spring pawl coacting with ratchet teeth on the reel. These ratchet teeth are Yformed on the llat side o'll the web 6 and are indicated at 10-10, in this particular instance 'four of said teeth being provided. The pawl is preferably .formed from a spring plate which may be made from a blank shaped approximately as shown in Fig. 8, said blank being bent into the form shown in Fig. f1 which shows its position of rest.

11 is the pawl end which engages the teeth 10, the bearing or fulcrum being indicated at 12, and the trip end indicated oil" the retaining lugs 17, so that by pressing on the trip end 14 of the pawlelement, the pawl end 11 will be li'l'ted out of the path of the ratchet teeth 12 thus releasing the reel and permitting it to be rewound by` i the spring 7.

18 is a button at the front 'face of the reel housing, the shank `of the button passing through a hole in the front face oli the housing so that the inner end, which may be headed, will bear against the trip end `el the pawl. Hence, by pressing on the button 18, the pawl 11 may be released, where. uponthe reel will rewind the chain 1.

By this very simple and eiiective arrangement, 1 am able to malte all of the parts very compactl and am likewise able to provide an effective reel engaging means to hold it against revvinding until the' proper time. riChe outer edge of the reel snugly fits Within the housing, so that the chain 1 will be prevented from Wedging in any space, but will be contained Wholly Within the chain groove of the reel When Wound thereon. Obviously, the reel should be so fitted and mounted as to turn with entire freedom save as restrained by the spring 7 and pavvl l1. The arms 15-15 of the pawl in operation act not only to hold the pavvl in proper position, but lilievvise act as springs tending to move the pavvl end 11 from the.

position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 4, when pressure on the button 18 is released.

It will be understood, of course, that various modifications can be made Without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention and that in the drawings and speciication, I have described only the preferred embodiment.

It will be observed that there is a space between the tops of the ratchet teeth and the inner surface of the outer member 1 of the casing, said space being slightly greater than the thickness of the pavvl end 11, so that When the pavvl end 11 is Withdrawn from in front of the teeth 10-10, the reel may rewind freely under the influence of the spring 7.

1n Fig. 1, l have shown the chain 1 of the type associated With a pair of eye glasses, the latter being indicated in dotted outline.

"What l claim is:

l. 1n a device of the character described, a housing, a reel rotatably mounted therein, said reel includinga grooved flange and also a Web portion providing pockets on opposite sides thereof and Within the housing, a coil spring in one of said pockets at lone side of said Web, said spring being anchored at one end Within the housing and secured at its opposite end to the reel, a reel holding device located in the other pocket and comprising a spring-actuated paWl-mounted Within the housing, a stop on the side face of said reel ,adjacent to said pavvl and arranged to be engaged thereby, With manually operable means for moving the pawl out of holding engagement with said stop.

2. in a device of the character described, a housing, a reel rotatably mounted therein and having a grooved periphery, a chain passage in the housing adjacent said groove, said reel having a web portion providing pockets on opposite sides thereof Within said housing, a coil spring in one of said pockets at one side of said web, means Within the ing secured to said reel, a reel holding device ,comprising a spring-actuated paivl mounted Within the housing and in the pocket opposite the one first mentioned, ratchet teeth on the side face of said reel arranged to be engaged by said paWl, manualiy operable means cooperating With said pavvl for moving the same out of holding engagement With said reel.

3. 1n a device of the character described, a housing, a reel rotatably mounted therein and having a grooved perimeter, al chain passage in the housing adjacent said groove, said reel having a Web portion providing pockets on opposite sides thereof Within said housing, a coil spring in one of said pockets at one side of said Web, means carried by the housing constituting a stationary abutment, one end of said spring being secured thereto, kthe opposite end. of said spring being secured to said reel, a reel holding device comprising a spring actuated tilting the housing at the side of the reel opposite the spring, and ratchet teeth facing laterally from the web of said reel and arranged to be engaged by said pavvl, with manually operable means carried by the housing and co-acting with said pavvl to disengage the same from said ratchet teeth, said pavvl being normally held in tooth engaging position.

4L. 1n a device of the character described, a housing, a reel rotatably mounted therein and having a grooved perimeter, a chain passage in the housing adjacent said groove, said reel having a'Web portion providing pockets on opposite sides thereof Within said housing, a coil spring in one of said pockets paWl mounted Within,y

at one side of said Web, means carried by the housing constituting a stationary abutment, one end of said spring being secured thereto, the opposite end of said spring being secured to said reel, holding means for the reel comprising ratchet teeth projecting laterally from the Web of the reel, and a pavvl arranged to co-act Wi th said teeth, said pau/'l inchiding a pau/'l end for tooth` engagement, a trip end opposite the pavvl end and an intermediate fulcrum between the trip end `and patvl end.

5. 1n a device of the character described, a housing, a reel rotatably mounted therein and having a grooved perimeter, a chain passage in the housing adjacent said groove,

cured thereto, the opposite end of said spring pawl end and an intermediate fulcruln be being secured to said reel, holding means tween the trip end and paWl end, and also for the reel comprising ratchet teeth proincluding integrally therewith a spring arm. 1u

jeeting laterally from the web of the reel, JOSEPH R. SMITH. and a paWl arranged to co-act With said Witnesses:

teeth, said paWl including apawl end for J. L. ROWE,

tooth engagement, a trip end opposite the A. T. WEDGE.

(Iopies o1' this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

